Viking Ocean Cruises welcomed the company’s second ship, Viking Sea, with a christening celebration on the Thames River in Greenwich – and although Viking’s ocean ships are classified as “small ships,” Viking Sea is the largest ship ever launched in London.
Less than one year ago, Viking Ocean Cruises launched its first ship, Viking Star, and marked the arrival of the travel industry’s first entirely new cruise line in a decade.
Yesterday in London, the company officially welcomed its second ship, Viking Sea, to its fleet during a celebration on the Thames River in Greenwich.
Though Viking’s ocean ships are classified as “small ships” by Cruise Critic, the 930-guest, 47,800-ton Viking Sea is the largest ship ever launched in London.
After passing through the Thames Barrier, the ship received a warm welcome by 28 able sea men, who manned the yardarms of the Cutty Sark – the iconic 19th Century British clipper ship – and saluted Viking Sea as she arrived in Greenwich.
Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises, said, “Our ships are built for exploration; they are vessels that help our guests spend more time immersed in and surrounded by their destination. With the arrival of our second ship – and with four more sister ships on the way – we are focused on introducing travelers to the Viking way of destination-centered cruising, a unique style that was inspired by our success on the rivers.”
After arriving in Greenwich, Viking Sea was positioned in the Thames River with decorated pontoons nearby to welcome guests for various shore excursions around the city.
As part of the ship’s christening – or naming – ceremony, guests were treated to a concert from Norwegian soprano Sissel and The Olav’s Choir. Guests also enjoyed a talk by Stein Olav Henrichsen, the director of Oslo’s Munch Museum – as part of the official launch of Viking’s exclusive new partnership with the museum that is designed to celebrate the life and artwork of Norway’s most famous artist, Edvard Munch, with daily “Munch Moments,” staged for guests each day in the ship’s Atrium.
During Viking Sea’s christening ceremony, Karine Hagen — Viking’s senior vice president and daughter of Torstein Hagen — served as ceremonial godmother and offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for Viking Sea, a naval tradition that dates back thousands of years.
Widely recognized as the face of the brand in Viking’s television ads and online cultural enrichment videos, Karine is responsible for infusing the company’s itineraries with extraordinary experiences. She is also the author of the children’s books, The World of Finse, an educational series that showcases the adventures of Karine’s yellow Labrador, Finse. The series is set largely along the global destinations and routes of Viking’s cruises, and the books are sold onboard Viking’s ships. As a response to guest requests, Finse also took part in yesterday’s christening events.
Several elements of the christening ceremony paid homage to the company’s Norwegian heritage. Instead of champagne for the traditional bottle-breaking, Viking Sea was christened with a bottle of Gammel Opland aquavit, which hails from the same town in Norway where Torstein’s mother and Karine’s grandmother, Ragnhild – also lovingly known as “Mamsen” – was born.
“Mamsen’s,” the Norwegian deli onboard Viking Sea, was also named after Ragnhild, and Gammel Opland was her favorite brand of aquavit. Additionally, in honor of the original Vikings who once explored the British Isles, a Viking battle axe was used to cut the cord for the aquavit christening. The particular broad axe used is a replica of an 11th-century Viking axe discovered in the 1920s when it was dredged from the bottom of the Thames River near the London Bridge.
Following the christening and a fireworks show held in the middle of the Thames River, Viking Sea set sail for Bergen, and from there she will continue on to Oslo, Copenhagen, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Helsinki, and Stockholm on the popular 15-day Viking Homelands itinerary.
Viking Sea’s christening was the culmination of a maiden voyage that began April 3 when the ship set sail in the Mediterranean. Over the last month, she made stops in what will be regular ports, including Athens, Santorini, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Venice, Rome, and Barcelona.
Viking Sea will spend the summer sailing itineraries in Scandinavia and the Baltic; she will call on Greenwich again in June as part of Viking’s new Into the Midnight Sun itinerary that sails between London and Bergen and explores the northernmost reaches of Scandinavia and sails across the Arctic Circle.
Currently on its maiden voyage, the new Carnival Vista features an array of entertainment and adrenaline-inducing thrill experiences.
“Carnival Vista is an absolute ‘wow’ in every respect, and we have put together a line-up of entertainment, activities, and experiences like nothing else at sea,” said Sarah Beth Reno, vice president of entertainment for Carnival Cruise Line. “Our guests are going to love this ship, and their biggest challenge will be trying to choose from among so many different things to do on board.”
First IMAX Theatre at Sea, Thrill Theater Part of Carnival Multiplex
Carnival Vista houses the first IMAX Theatre at sea, including a three-deck-high screen that offers an immersive cinema experience featuring the latest Hollywood blockbusters, family favorites, and IMAX documentary content.
The 187-seat IMAX Theatre is part of the Carnival Multiplex, which also includes the Thrill Theater, a multi-dimensional experience where seats move back and forth and side to side, and viewers are sprayed with water and bubbles to make them feel like they’re part of the feature.
Available on Carnival Vista only is Thrillogy, a scary-yet-fun multi-sensory horror movie experience within the Thrill Theater that is designed for guests 17 and older.
The cost for first-run movies in the IMAX Theatre is $12.95 for adults and $9.95 for children 12 and under and guests aged 55 and over. The cost for IMAX documentaries and Thrill Theater is $5.50 per person.
New Playlist Productions Shows
Carnival Vista will debut three new high-tech Playlist Productions shows that combine captivating live performances with spectacular LED staging and special effects to create evenings of unforgettable entertainment. The three shows include:
All three shows feature high-energy after parties in Carnival Vista‘s atrium, Havana Bar, and other spaces where guests can dance and interact with the stars following the show.
Additional Live Entertainment Options
A roster of popular comedians perform at the 385-seat Punchliner Comedy Club which offers family-friendly and adults-only shows and guests are the stars of Hasbro, The Game Show, which features larger-than-life adaptations of iconic Hasbro games.
New Serenity Nights, Deck Parties and More
At night, the ship’s outdoor adults-only retreat is transformed into a South Beach-style club under the stars complete with spectacular lighting effects and a crowd-pleasing mix of popular music spun by one of Carnival’s professionally-trained DJs.
Already known for hosting the best deck parties at sea, the cruise line takes it to another level on Carnival Vista with the Rock-N-Glow 80s Deck Party where participants don day-glo and other attire from the 80s and dance the night away.
A new Island Deck Party celebrates the fun and spirit of RedFrog and BlueIguana – the colorful namesake characters of Carnival Vista’s poolside watering holes. In early summer, the Clue murder mystery experience will debut as well.
Spectacular Outdoor Fun
Carnival Vista takes cruising to new heights – literally – with SkyRide, a first-of-its-kind aerial attraction where adventure seekers pedal hanging recumbent-like cycles at speeds of up to 18 miles an hour across an elevated 800-foot-long track.
Kaleid-O-Slide is a new inner-tube slide where riders zip down 455 feet of exhilarating corkscrew turns enhanced by music and stunning kaleidoscopic effects.
Carnival Vista also features a suspended 270-foot-long ropes course, a high speed Twister slide, an aqua spray park with a 300-gallon tipping bucket.
Exciting European and Caribbean Departures
Carnival Vista debuted in Europe on May 1, 2016, and will operate a summer schedule of Mediterranean cruises through October. Following a trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Vista will offer a pair of 11-day voyages from New York in November 2016 before repositioning to Miami for year-round Caribbean sailings later that month.
Additional Information and Reservations
Reservations are currently being accepted for all of Carnival Vista’s European and Caribbean itineraries. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, or visit carnival.com
Aqua Expeditions, leader of luxury cruises on two of the worlds’ greatest rivers, introduces a new family-travel promotion in response to the demand for more inspiring, educational, and authentic travel experiences for children and their parents.
Parents are constantly seeking new experiences for their children while traveling. Aqua Expeditions’ latest family activities have been tailored to take families on an unforgettable educational experience down the magnificent Mekong River on board its luxury all-suite vessel Aqua Mekong.
To mark the launch of these family-friendly departures this May, Aqua Expeditions is offering an introductory promotion. Children between the age of 7 and 12 years old will stay on board the Aqua Mekong for free when sharing with both parents in a triple cabin or accompanied by a single parent.*
Children can look forward to experiential learning experiences on cycling trips to local fishing villages where they will interact with the community; explore the wet markets; taste local specialties and participate in a special interactive cooking class on board with the chef. They will also be able to visit a religious mountain monastery for a blessing ceremony with resident Buddhist monks.
Further activities and adventures include kayaking, fishing, and outdoor movie screenings on the observation deck where guests enjoy family-friendly films. There is also a library, board games, and foosball table for kids to enjoy. All families will have the opportunity to tailor their trip to participate in activities that most interest them.
For more information on this new family travel promotion, as well as routes and itinerary dates, please visit www.aquaexpeditions.com.
*Terms and Conditions:
In honor of the men and women who serve in the U.S. and Canadian military, Carnival Cruise Line is offering active and retired service members special savings and bonuses during May to mark National Military Appreciation Month.
The promotion — which provides a $50 onboard credit per cabin and a two-category upgrade — can be combined with Carnival’s highly attractive military rates. In addition, guests who qualify for the month-long promotion can book up to two additional staterooms with the same bonuses and pricing. The promotion can be booked throughout the month of May and is applicable for cruises departing between August 2016 and April 2018.
“During every Carnival cruise, service members are also honored at a special military appreciation event we kicked off earlier this year in conjunction with our Honor.Family.Fun. program which is raising funds for Operation Homefront.”
In January, Carnival launched Honor.Family.Fun. — a year-long initiative in partnership with seven-time Grammy Award–winning superstar Carrie Underwood and Operation Homefront, the national nonprofit that builds strong, stable, and secure military families.
The program helps raise funds for Operation Homefront and will culminate in a special private concert for service men and women and their families starring Underwood aboard Carnival’s newest and most family-friendly ship, Carnival Vista, when the vessel makes its U.S. debut in New York City on Nov. 4, 2016.
During Underwood’s “Storyteller Tour” — which kicked off in Jacksonville in January — select military families, chosen in partnership with Operation Homefront, are being treated to a personal meet-and-greet with Underwood before a number of her concerts. A series of videos showing these heart-warming encounters can be viewed here.
Throughout the yearlong Honor.Family.Fun. initiative, those wishing to support the cause can contribute by clicking on the “Donate Today” button at carnival.com/HonorFamilyFun.
Commemorative dog tags are available for purchase at merchandise stands at all “Storyteller Tour” concerts and on board Carnival ships, with all proceeds supporting Operation Homefront.
With just days before its second ship, Viking Sea, is christened in Greenwich on the Thames River in London, Viking Ocean Cruises® today announced that its fourth ship, Viking Sun, will spend her maiden season sailing the company’s first-ever World Cruise, spanning 141 days and visiting five continents, 35 countries and 66 ports, with 12 port overnights.
Departing on December 15, 2017, this epic journey from Miami to London will allow guests to explore Cuba and the Caribbean; sail the Panama Canal and the South Pacific; call upon ports in Asia, from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City; and see the Arabian, Red and Mediterranean Seas, before concluding in the North Atlantic.
Like on all Viking itineraries, World Cruise guests will enjoy a complimentary shore excursion in each of the 66 ports and free unlimited Wi-Fi. They will also receive Business Class airfare and all gratuities and service fees, along with an extensive list of added-value inclusions in their cruise fare.
“Ever since our first ship set sail last year, we have been focused on bringing the destination back to ocean cruising. Our unique, award-winning approach allows our guests to explore comfortably, with experiences that enrich their lives along the way,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises.
“This World Cruise is the most extensive and culturally immersive itinerary we have ever offered, and we are pleased by the early interest in pre-sales we have seen from our guests and industry partners.”
World Cruise Highlights
Viking’s first-ever World Cruise visits dozens of legendary cities, charming ports, and idyllic islands in one seamless itinerary. Guests will immerse themselves in the world’s rich cultures during included excursions that provide unmatched insight into daily life, as well as Privileged Access visits to cultural institutions.
Overnight stays in 12 cities allow World Cruise guests to delve deeper into the destination; and Viking’s Culture Curriculum® offers additional enrichment through onboard lectures and entertainment.
Guests may choose the 141-day cruise from Miami to London, which includes 21 days of sailing from Miami to Los Angeles; or they may also choose to cruise from Los Angeles to London, a 120-day itinerary. Full details on the World Cruise can be found on Viking’s website here; highlights include:
Viking Sun
Viking’s ocean ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, boast 465 cabins and accommodate 930 passengers. Viking Sun will be the company’s fourth ship in the fleet and will be delivered in late 2017; the two remaining yet-to-be-named ships will be delivered in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Classified by Cruise Critic as “small ships,” Viking’s ocean fleet features understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design. Features include:
Guests on Princess Cruises can now choose a new premium stateroom category featuring VIP amenities and exclusive dining with the new Club Class Mini-Suite.
This elevated mini-suite category features select perks including new Club Class Dining — a reserved dining area with expedited seating and expanded menu options — and priority embarkation and disembarkation. Plus, Club Class guests will be among the first to sleep on the new Princess Luxury Bed.
Debuting on select ships beginning in December 2016, Club Class Mini-Suites will roll out through the fall of 2017 in association with the cruise line’s “Come Back New Promise,” which is delivering guests a premium cruise vacation enhanced by innovative and desirable product enhancements.
“Club Class Mini-Suites provide Princess guests yet another elevated product enhancement to enjoy during their cruise vacation,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president.
“The VIP perks, including the new Club Class Dining, offer a premium and memorable onboard experience so our guests can completely relax, unwind, and immerse themselves in worldwide destinations and ultimately ‘come back new.’”
Club Class Dining
Offering guests more convenience and tempting fares, Club Class Dining includes:
Upgraded Amenities & Services
Club Class Mini-Suite guests will also enjoy the following additional VIP perks:
Full Suite guests will also enjoy all the benefits of Club Class Mini-Suites including Club Class Dining, and be among the first to experience the new Princess Luxury Bed, in addition to the many other amenities offered with a Full Suite.
In addition to Club Class Dining and upgraded amenities and services, Club Class Mini-Suites include all of the standard mini-suite benefits featuring spacious staterooms, up to 323 square feet with balcony, separate seating area with sofa bed and coffee table, bathroom with combination tub and shower, and a welcome glass of champagne, among others.
The new Club Class Mini-Suites add to the cruise line’s previously announced “Come Back New Promise,” a multi-year, multi-million-dollar program introducing new product innovations that offer guests enriching vacation experiences.
Fathom, made history today with its arrival into Havana, marking the first time in over 50 years that a U.S. cruise line has sailed from the U.S. to Cuba. It is also the first time in decades that Cuban-born individuals have been able to travel by sea to or from Cuba.
Fathom travelers were greeted by fanfare and a festive celebration as they arrived in the Port of Havana, the first of three destinations that guests will visit as part of the brand’s exclusive seven-night voyages to Cuba. Following this week’s inaugural trip to Cuba, Fathom’s 704-passenger Adonia luxury cruise ship will begin operating its weeklong itineraries to Cuba every other week.
“Our arrival today in Havana is a special moment in history that contributes to a more positive future, and we congratulate our colleague Arnie Perez on being the first person born in Cuba to step ashore under Cuba’s new policy,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation.
“We are so honored that Carnival Corporation and our Fathom brand can be part of such a meaningful milestone. As we worked to become the first U.S. cruise company to sail from the U.S. to Cuba in more than five decades, it was clear just how much interest there is from travelers who want to experience Cuba. We believe there is no better way to experience Cuba and see this beautiful island than to cruise with us on Fathom, and we look forward to providing a very special and rewarding experience to everyone who sails with us.”
“We are extremely excited and very humbled by this historic opportunity to give Fathom travelers an exclusive chance to experience Cuba, which is a unique destination unlike anywhere else in the world,” said Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corporation.
Russell added: “Our guests are now able to visit three beautiful destinations on the island all in one week, with the convenience of only having to unpack once while we sail on the Fathom Adonia, our premium small ship with its excellent and diverse dining, service and accommodations. Cuba is a beautiful island with great people and a rich history and culture, and we are so excited we are the first U.S. cruise line that will be giving travelers the opportunity to enjoy Cuba with all the comforts and convenience of being on board our ship. We look forward to making sure our guests have an extraordinary experience.”
Cuban voyages will feature three ports of call in Cuba
During each sailing, Fathom will visit Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, three ports of call for which Carnival Corporation has obtained berthing approval.
As part of this historic sailing in this inaugural year, travelers will enjoy an exciting Cuban experience and will sail aboard Adonia, a premium small ship where they can choose to partake in onboard experiences, including Cuban- and Caribbean-inspired food and films, music and dancing, and much more.
Special onboard programming will include a wide variety of activities covering an array of interests, ranging from an orientation of Cuba’s history, customs and culture, to geographic-inspired entertainment, to casual and fun personal enrichment activities, along with conversational Spanish lessons.
Seven-day itineraries on Carnival Corporation’s Fathom brand will generally depart from PortMiami on Sundays at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). The ship will arrive at its first destination, Havana, the following morning (Monday) at 11 a.m. ET. The Adonia returns to its homeport, PortMiami, at 7:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.
Prices for seven-day itineraries to Cuba start at $1,800 per person, excluding Cuban visas, taxes, fees and port expenses and including all meals on the ship, onboard experiences and several on-the ground activities. Prices will vary by season.
To reserve a spot on future sailings, travelers may contact their travel professional or call 1-855-9Fathom. Visit Fathom’s “Cruise to Cuba” page at fathom.org to learn more about the brand’s weeklong itineraries to Cuba.
VOOM Rivals Wi-Fi on Land and Enables Streaming From All 24 Ships Worldwide
Get ready for super powered Internet at sea! Royal Caribbean International is making VOOM, its exclusive, high-speed internet service – the fastest at sea – available fleetwide on its 24 innovative ships sailing to the most popular destinations around the world. VOOM allows guests vacationing with Royal Caribbean to always stay connected and to stream their favorite music, movies and TV shows to stay up to date on the latest happenings. Whether they are posting envy-inducing vacation photos on Instagram or Snapchat, or video-chatting with loved ones back home using FaceTime or Skype, travelers can share their adventures in real-time with family and friends. Guests can even relax or chill poolside while catching up on their favorite TV show or the newest movie.
“VOOM is revolutionizing the onboard experience for our guests as well as for our crew and it is truly a game-changer for the industry,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Everything our guests and crew can do online at home, they will now be able to do from onboard all of our ships around the world.”
Known for the most innovative ships at sea, the cruise line has made a significant investment to enhance guests’ internet connectivity experience outfitting its newest smart ships with the latest and most advanced in technology and continually upgrading its existing fleet. Through a combination of Wi-Fi service providers, Royal Caribbean is able to deliver more overall bandwidth fleetwide than any other cruise line. The enhancements will provide speeds at least twice as fast as before and also have enabled the cruise line to provide service at prices that are less expensive than ever before – comparable to most land-based resorts.
Travelers sailing on all Royal Caribbean ships can enjoy the fastest internet at sea at a flat price with guests choosing from two packages:
This pricing is a significant improvement from the standard programs currently offered throughout the industry, many of which charge on a per-minute basis.
French America Line, the newest U.S. cruise line which recently announced deluxe five- to 10-day voyages on America’s waterways aboard the intimate 75-cabin Louisiane beginning August 22, is offering up to $420 in free pre-paid gratuities per stateroom*, based on double occupancy, for any bookings made on or before June 30 for sailings departing prior to December 31, 2016.
“French America Line is redefining river voyages in so many ways and this special inaugural offer is another way we set ourselves apart by providing substantive value for each guest,” said Tom Markwell, President, French America Line.
The elegant French-inspired ship accommodates a maximum of 150 guests in 75 inviting suites and staterooms for sailings with an attentive U.S. crew of 64. Itineraries celebrate regional cultural influences in food, music and history in areas once known as French America along the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland and Red rivers, and the waterways of the Gulf Coast.
Pricing is virtually all-inclusive, with one-night pre-embarkation deluxe hotel stay in some of America’s most legendary hotels, all meals designed by Chef de Cuisine Regina Charboneau offered in two dining venues as well as 24-hour room service, free-flowing hand-selected beverages, wines, beer and spirits, nightly live entertainment, informative cultural and historical talks by onboard Illuminators™, and memorable Traveler Collection™ shore excursions in every port of call included in the tariff.
Complimentary bicycles, helmets and maps are also available for independent explorations in every port of call. For more in-depth experiences during the cruise tour, optional private Curator Collection™ guided experiences may be added. Optional Prelude and Encore packages are also available for extended pre- and post-cruise experiences.
The 2016 Louisiane catalog, with detailed descriptions of itineraries that visit the Deep South™, Mississippi Headwaters™, River Crossroads™, Wilderness Rivers™ and Gulf Waterways™, as well as highlights in all ports of call, is now available. To reserve or learn more, visit www.frenchamericaline.com or call 1-888-387-1140.
